Thousands of people depend on the Black Warrior River for recreational opportunities as well as drinking water. People fish, flyfish, swim, boat, kayak, canoe, waterski, wakeboard and take advantage of many other recreational opportunities along the Black Warrior and its tributaries.
In Alabama, outdoor recreation generates $7.5 Billion in consumer spending, 86,000 direct Alabama jobs, $2.0 Billion in wages and salaries, and $494 Million in state and local tax revenue. Throughout our great nation, outdoor recreation creates 6.1 million American jobs. $646 billion in outdoor recreation spending each year. $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue. $39.7 billion in state/local tax revenue. (Source: Outdoor Industry Association’s 2012 Report).
Click here to visit Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s webpage about fishing in the Black Warrior River watershed.
Boating Magazine called the Black Warrior one of America’s best kept secrets for boating. Click here to visit Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s webpage about boating in the Black Warrior River watershed.
The Black Warrior’s Locust and Mulberry Forks provide excellent whitewater paddling opportunities, including the Alabama Cup Canoe and Kayak Races. The Friends of the Locust Fork River published a list of River Access Resources in Blount County in 2022. Paddling is also popular in some smaller creeks, such as Five Mile Creek in Jefferson County, home of Five Mile Creek Canoe & Company. Visit the Alabama Whitewater website for more paddling information, and contact the Birmingham Canoe Club if you have any questions.
In Tuscaloosa, the Black Warrior River has been the site of the Black Warrior Triathlon in recent years, along with the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and the U.S. Collegiate Nationals. The Tuscaloosa News estimated that the April 19, 2008 contest would boost the local economy by $12 million, approximately the same amount as an Alabama home football game against Tennessee! The triathlons take place near the famous docks of The Bama Belle.
Many waterside areas are excellent destinations for walking, fishing, observing wildlife, and visiting historic sites, such as Moundville Archaeological Park, Bankhead National Forest, Hurricane Creek Park, Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, Talladega National Forest: Oakmulgee District and the Horton Mill Covered Bridge, the highest covered bridge above any U.S. waterway. Additionally, Alabama’s Forever Wild Program provides many recreational opportunities. Click here to learn more about Forever Wild.
Notice pollution while recreating? Report it to Black Warrior Riverkeeper:
blackwarriorriver.org/report-pollution
Alabama’s Department of Tourism promotes some fantastic recreational opportunities:
http://alabama.travel/experience-alabama/outdoor
Hiking Trails in the Black Warrior River watershed:
Bankhead National Forest & Sipsey Wilderness
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/alabama/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_002553
https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/alabama/recarea/?recid=30081
Smith Lake Park
http://www.cullmancountyparks.com/smithlake.html
Clear Creek Bicycle Trail
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/clear-creek-bicycle-trail
Hurricane Creek Park (Cullman)
https://www.facebook.com/HurricaneCreekParkCullman/
Duck River Recreation Trail Map
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/alabama/duck-river-trail
East Side Bike Trail Map
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/7024249/east-side-trail
Palisades Park Nature Trails (Blount County)
http://www.blountcountypark.com/activities/hiking/
Walker County Lake Hiking Trail
https://alabama.travel/places-to-go/walker-county-lake
Rickwood Caverns State Park (3 Trails)
http://www.alapark.com/rickwood-caverns-state-park
Fultondale Parks
http://www.fultondale.com/parks/index.php
Forever Wild (Tracts 7, 8, 9, & 11)
http://alabamaforeverwild.com/forever-wild-tract-list
Hiking: http://alabamaforeverwild.com/hiking
Horseback: http://alabamaforeverwild.com/horseback
Ruffner Mountain Nature Preserve
https://ruffnermountain.org/
Trail Map: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57111822ab48dea221d56240/t/58e7c7d2e6f2e1983458d860/1491584979582/Trail_Map_2017.pdf
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Trail Map
https://turkeycreeknp.com/trail-map/
Red Rock Trail System
http://freshwaterlandtrust.org/find-a-trail/
Outdoor Afro
https://outdoorafro.org/
Druid City Bicycle Club
https://druidcitybicycleclub.com/
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hiking Trails
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Recreation/Black-Warrior-Tombigbee-BWT-Lakes/Hiking-Trails/
Tuscaloosa Riverwalk
https://visittuscaloosa.com/attraction/the-riverwalk/
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Tuscaloosa+River+Walk/@33.2145335,-87.5647745,16.75z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x888602bb97c92195:0xd8df2addd1ea96c8!2sTuscaloosa+Riverwalk,+Tuscaloosa,+AL+35401!3b1!8m2!3d33.2180434!4d-87.5585843!3m4!1s0x888602c2bf90233d:0x141f8ad446d660d7!8m2!3d33.2121847!4d-87.5755084
Tuscaloosa County Trails
https://www.tcpara.org/resources/trails
Lake Lurleen State Park Trail Map
https://www.alapark.com/parks/lake-lurleen-state-park
Tuscaloosa County Parks & Recreation Authority Map
http://www.tcpara.org/parks/map
Hurricane Creek “M Bend “ Park Bike Trail (Tuscaloosa)
https://www.tcpara.org/p/hurricane-creek-park-bike-trail
Richard L. Platt Memorial Levee Trail (Northport)
https://www.cityofnorthport.org/225/Outdoor-Activities
Oakmulgee District – Talladega National Forest
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/alabama/about-forest/districts/?cid=fsbdev3_002556
Map: https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd495684.pdf
Moundville Archaeological Park – Douglass Nature Trail
https://moundville.ua.edu/
Hale County Trails
http://www.bamatrails.com/pages/hale-county-trails.asp
AL Scenic River Trail – District 4
http://www.alabamascenicrivertrail.com/trip-planner/
Alabama Covered Bridge Trail (Locust Fork in Blount County has more covered bridges than anywhere else)
https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alabama/covered-bridges-day-trip-al/
Connecting with Birds and Nature Tours – Christopher Joe | Newbern, Hale County
https://birdsandnaturetour.wixsite.com/website-1
Black Belt Birding Initiative
https://alaudubon.org/black-belt-birding-initiative
Alabama Black Belt Adventures
https://alabamablackbeltadventures.org/
Alabama Birding Trails
https://alabamabirdingtrails.com/map/#
Alabama Bass Trail
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/
Alabama Mountain Biking Trails
http://mountainbikealabama.com/
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers links relevant to recreation in the Black Warrior River watershed:
Boating and Fishing
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/BlackWarriorTombigbee%28BWT%29Lakes/Boating.aspx
Day Use Parks
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/BlackWarriorTombigbee%28BWT%29Lakes/DayUsePark.aspx
Camping
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/BlackWarriorTombigbee%28BWT%29Lakes/Camping.aspx
Hiking Trails
http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation/BlackWarriorTombigbee%28BWT%29Lakes/HikingTrails.aspx
Campgrounds run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: phone numbers
Burchfield Campground (205) 497-9828
Deerlick Campground (205) 759-1591
Rocky Branch Park (205) 554-1684
Jennings Ferry Campground (205) 372-1217
Forkland Campground (334) 289-5530
Foscue Campground (334) 289-5535
Service Park Campground (251) 753-6935
World Champion Freestyle Kayaker Eric Jackson on the Black Warrior River’s Locust Fork.
Photo by Elizabeth Scribner
